Method of and apparatus for reinforcing retorts.



F. W. WOOD. METHOD OF AND MPARATUS FOR REINFORCING RETORTS.

, APPLICATION FILED JULY 12.1915. RENEWED JULYZI. 19H}. 1,294,743.

Patented Feb. 18, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEEI I.

ms "emu: runs ca, Wampum" msmunwn. u. c.

vF. WJWOOD.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR REINFORCING RETORTS.

APPLICATION FILED lULY I2, l |5 RENEWED JULY 27,1913- 1.,294343. Patented Feb. 18, 1919.

ms nonms Pzrzns w. rna'rmurua. wAsnmnn-m, a c

FREDERICK W. WOOD, 0F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR REINFORCING RETORTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 18, 1919.

Application filed July 12, 1915, Serial No. 39,261. Renewed July 27, 1918. Serial No. 247,083.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, FREDERICK W. WOOD, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Baltimore and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of and Apparatus for Reinforcing Retorts, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to apparatus for use in high temperature and high pressure decompositions or distillations or other treatments, and has reference more particularly to that type of apparatus in which the substance to be treated is introduced under pressure into a metal retort inclosed in a surrounding combustion chamber, in which combustion chamber the heating gas for heating the retort is circulated. For the treatment of certain substances, the latter are introduced into the retort under considerable pressure, and a high degree of heat is necessary to bring about the desired changes. This high temperature greatly reduces the strength of the retort, and renders the same liable to rupture or bursting from the pressure within, with disastrous results.

It is the aim of my invention to obviate this liability of the retort to rupture, and the invention consists of a method of reinforcing the retort so that it will withstand, Without failure and in its heated weakened condition, the pressure to which it is subjected internally, the said method consisting in introducing the heating gas into the combustion chamber at a pressure sufficiently high to prevent the retort from being ruptured by the pressure within the same. I prefer to introduce the gas under a pressure, the same or approximately the same, as that acting within the retort, so that the two pressures acting respectively on opposite sides of the walls of the retort, will relieve the same of dangerous stresses. Further I propose to control the pressure in the combustion chamber automatically, by the pressure acting within the retort, so that the two pressures may be maintained at their proper relative degrees.

My invention consists also in an apparatus of novel form, suitable for carrying the above described method into efl'ect, which apparatus will be fully set forth in the specification to follow, and the novel features of which will be defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a vertical" longitudinal sectional elevation through my improved apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view through the same on the line aa of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings:

1 represents a vertical cylindrical structure of suitable heat-resisting material such as fire brick or the like, the said structure being provided at its center with'an annular combustion chamber 2, and with an annular flue 3 which surrounds the combustion chamber and is separated therefrom by means of an annular partition or wall 4. The upper ends of the flue 3 and combustion chamber 2, communicate with each other so that the heating gas supplied at thebase of the flue 3, in the manner more fully described here inafter, will flow upwardly through the flue, will enter the combustion chamber at its up per end, will flow downwardly therethrough, and will escape from the lower end of the combustion chamber into a discharge flue 5 leading upwardly and discharging into a stack or chimney 6. Situated within the combustion chamber, is a cylindrical retort 7 which may be of iron or other suitable material, the said retort extending at its upper end through the end of the structure 1, and terminating in a reduced supply pipe 8, and the lower end of the retort being provided with a reduced discharge pipe 9 by which the vapors and substances resulting from the decomposition of the material in the retort are carried ofi. I

In the use of the apparatus described, for the treatment of certain substances, such as the decomposition of crude petroleum for the production of gasolene, etc., the substance to be treated is introduced into the retort under considerable pressure, somethe result that they are liable to rupture from the pressure within, thereby causmg destruction of the apparatus and possible loss of life. I propose by my improved method to overcome the objections mentioned, by reinforcing the retort so that it will withstand without failure and in its heated weakened condition, the pressure acting within the same, and in carrying my method into effect by means of the apparatus described, I introduce the heating gas into the combustion chamber at a pressure suificient to reinforce the same and prevent its rupture or bursting. The pressure under which the heating gas is introduced is a substantial pressure, and preferably the same or approximately the same, as that acting within the retort, the result being that the pressures on the exterior and interior of the retort are balanced to such extent that the walls of the retort will be relieved of injurious stresses.

The heating gas may be introduced. by any suitable means which will give the same the desired pressure. In the present instance this is effected by the employment of a. pressure pump 10 providedwith two cylinders, a cylinder 11 for supplying air with the heating gas, and a relatively smaller cylinder 12 for supplying the gas, the two cylinders being equipped respectively with pressure pistons 11? and 12, so that air and gas may be supplied to the combustion chamber in the proper proportions. I prefer to introduce the gas into'the combustion chamber through a number of inlets 13 leading through the outer wall of the structure 1, and discharging into the annular flue 3 near the base of the same, which inlets are connected with a supply pipe 14 surrounding the structure and connected in turn with the ga cylinder of the pressure pump so as to receive the gas therefrom under pressure. The air is introduced through a number of inlets 15, through the wall of the structure, opening into the flue 3, in the present instance beneath the respective gas inlets 13. The inlets 15 are connected with a supply pipe 16 surrounding the structure, which supply pipe is in turn connected with the air cylinder 11 so as to receive air under pressure therefrom.

T he pressure pump is of a size, and is so operated that the gas and air are introduced into the combustion chamber at the proper reinforcing pressure which, as above stated, is preferably the same or approximately the same as that acting within the retort; and in order that the two pressures may be maintained in such relation, I propose to control the discharge of the products of combustion from. the combustion chamber, automatically by the pressure within the retort. This 1 effect in the present instance by means of a discharge valve 17 applied to the discharge flue where it enters the stack 6, which valve is controlled by a pressure-actuated device 18, operated by the pressure in the retort. The pressure actuated device 18 is in the form of a cylinder 19 containing a piston 20, whose rod is jointed as at 21 to a valve actuating lever 22 pivoted at one end to a fixed bracket as at 23, and connected between its end and the point of connection of the piston rod therewith, to the valve stem, the actuating lever being provided with an adjustable Weight 25. A pipe 26 leads from the supply pipe 8 of the retort, to the cylinder above the piston therein, and the form, size and relation of the parts is such that the valve will be drawn by the piston toward its seat With suflicient pressure to maintain the proper relative de grees of pressure in the retort and combustion chamber. As a result of this method of controlling the discharge of the products of combustion by the pressure in the retort,

any variations of the pressure in the retort will correspondingly vary the pressure in the combustion chamber, so that under all conditions the two pressures will be maintained automatically at the proper relative degrees.

The employment of the heating gas under pressure greatly increases its heating efiiciency. Furthermore, as a result of the reinforcing action of the heating gas as clescri'bed, it is possible to employ a retort of heat resisting porous material such as fire clay, and as a result, the operation may be carried on with much higher temperatures than is possible with a retort constructed of metals usually available for such purposes. In case a porous retort is used, it is preferable to proportion the two pressures, so that that acting within the retort will be slightly in. excess of the pressure of the heating gas acting on the exterior of the same, which will avoid any liability of the heating gas entering the retort through the porous walls of the same. The cylindrical fire resisting structure is inclosed by a strengthening shell or casing 27 preferably of steel, of a thickness to withstand the maximum operating pressure within the structure, to avoid any liability of injury to the structure from such pressures, this shell being separated from the structure by a heat insulating layer of as bestos or suitable material 28. The shell is sufficiently insulated from the combustion chamber, so that its ability to resist the pressure is not impaired by the effect of heat; and it is so constructed as to completely inclose the fire resisting structure and thus prevent the escape of gaseous products from within, except through the outlet or outlets'provided for the purpose.

To further protect the valve which controls the discharge of the products of combustion, I may introduce into the discharge flue 5, a spray of Water through nozzle 29, shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, the Water of Which spray Will be converted into steam, and Will reduce the temperature of the issuing gases.

While in the accompanying drawings I have illustrated my improved apparatus in the form which I prefer to adopt, it Will be understood that the details may be changed by the skilled mechanic Without departing from the limits of my invention; and it Will be further understood that the invention is not limited to any particular form or construction of the parts except in so far as such limitations are set forth in the claims. Also it Will be understood that the method of procedure may be varied by the skilled mechanic, provided it will operate with the functions and effects substantially as above indicated.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is:

1. The method of reinforcing a retort subjected to internal pressure and surrounded by a combustion chamber, Which method consists in introducing the heating gas into the combustion chamber at a pressure sufii cient to reinforce the retort against rupture from internal pressure.

2. The method of reinforcing a retort subjected to internal pressure and surrounded by a combustion chamber, Which method consists in introducing the heating gas into the combustion chamber at the same or approximately the same pressure as that Within the retort.

3. In the method of reinforcing a retort subjected to internal pressure, and surrounded by a combustion chamber, introducing the heating gas into the combustion chamber under pressure, and controlling the discharge of the products of combustion by the pressure in the retort.

4. In the method of reinforcing a retort subjected to internal pressure and inclosed in a surrounding combustion chamber, introducing the heating gas into the combustion chamber at the same or approximately the same pressure as that Within the retort, and maintaining said relative pressures by the action of the pressure in the retort.

5. In the method of reinforcing a retort subjected to internal pressure and inclosed in a surrounding combustion chamber, introducing the heating gas into the combustion chamber at the same or approximately the same pressure as that in the retort, and varying the pressure in the combustion chamber in accordance With variations of pressure in the retort.

6. In the method of reinforcing a retort subjected to internal pressure and inclosed in a surrounding combustion chamber, introducing the heating gas into the combusin the combustion chamber by that in the retort.

7. In an apparatus of the type described,

the combination of a retort inclosed in a combustion chamber and adapted to receive the substance to be treated under pres sure, and means for introducing the heating gas into the combustion chamber at a pressure suflicient to reinforce the retort against rupture from internal pressure.

8. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination of a retort inclosed in a combustion chamber, and adapted to receive the substance to be treated under pressure, and means for introducing the heating gas into the combustion chamber at the same or approximately the same pressure as that in the retort.

9. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination of a retort inclosed in a combustion chamber and adapted to receive the substance to be treated under pressure, means for introducing the heating gas into the combustion chamber under pressure, and means actuated by the pressure in the retort for controlling the pressure in the combustion chamber.

10. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination of a retort inclosed in a combustion chamber and adapted to receive the substance to be treated under pressure,

means for introducing the heating gas into the combustion chamber under pressure, and means for automatically controlling the pressure in the combustion chamber by the pressure in the retort.

11. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination of a retort inclosed in a combustion chamber and adapted to receive the substance to be treated under pressure, means for introducing the heating gas into the combustion chamber under a pressure sufficient to reinforce the retort against rupture, and means actuated by the pressure in the retort for controlling the discharge of the products of combustion from the combustion chamber.

12. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination of a retort inclosed in a combustion chamber and adapted to receive the substance to be treated under pressure, means for introducing the heating gas into the combustion chamber under a reinforcing pressure, a discharge valve to control the discharge of the products of combustion from the combustion chamber, and a fluid pressure actuated device operated by the pressure in the retort and controlling the operation of the valve.

13. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination of a retort inclosed in a combustion chamber and adapted to receive the substance to be treated under pressure,

the said combustion chamber having a flue for the discharge of the products of combustion, a discharge rake in said flue, a cylinder, and a communication between the retort and cylinder for the admission to the cylinder of the pressure in the retort. 10

In testimony whereof, I have afiixed my signature.

FREDERICK W. WVOOD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

